The Ultimate Spooky Travel Guide to Long Beach, California

Within Los Angeles County, there’s a city filled with spooky things to do—Long Beach. This SoCal city is where I grew up and holds a special place in my black heart. While there are many creepy activities and events sprawled across LA, I wanted to hone in on this slice of the California coast. I figured it’s time I create a travel guide to the LBC, mapping out macabre places you must check out. Whether you’re a visitor or local who’s pining for new spots to discover, this list is brimming with spooky finds and is meant for the traveler who appreciates the darkness.

The 4^th Horseman

If you enjoy eating your pizza while watching scary movies, then head to The 4^th Horseman. This horror-inspired pizzeria has been haunting the city since 2018. Horror films play non-stop on a projector, metal music blares from the speakers and the entire aesthetic screams Satan. Their pizza is delicious, and they have plenty of vegan options. Selections include The Vampire Slayer, Slasher, Rosemary’s Baby and more. Plus, they just expanded, so the space is bigger and better.

Alex’s Bar

Alex’s Bar reeks of punk spirit and attitude, and I say that in the best way possible. They have a roster of band performances, karaoke and trivia game nights, and rotating food vendors. But the real reason the establishment made this list is because, for a brief period, it was Fangtasia. If you’re a True Blood fan, then you know Fangtasia was the vampire hangout spot featured in the TV series. Alex’s Bar was part of the set for the show’s first few seasons. It’s pretty cool to know Long Beach has a place in vampire pop culture. Have a drink and enjoy the music!

The Bembridge House

So, this is a place I have not yet visited myself. I actually learned about it while doing research for this blog post. I had to include it because it is a Victorian house, and I’m obsessed with the Victorian era. The property is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a Queen Anne Victorian residence that was resurrected in 1906. There’s something about Victorian architecture that also evokes gothic vibes, and this historical home is no exception. And like many things Victorian, it’s probably haunted. Tours are offered at various times throughout the year.

Eclipsed Emporium

This is where Long Beach goths shop. You’ll find Eclipsed Emporium in the Bixby Knolls borough of the city. The boutique is dedicated to dark alternative fashion and carries pieces from a variety of gothic clothing brands. Women, men, children and all those in between can find something here. I’ve bought dresses, tops and accessories, and the quality is great. The owner, Tuesday, is also so friendly and helpful.

House of Intuition

If you need to stock up on metaphysical goods, stop by House of Intuition. The store has multiple locations in LA. Their store in Long Beach is situated in the Belmont Shores neighborhood on 2^nd street. Peruse their selections of candles, crystals, books, altar items and more. You can also book a Tarot reading in advance.

Midsummer Scream

Okay, so you have to be in Long Beach during summerween to attend this event, but it’s totally worth it! Midsummer Scream is a massive Halloween and horror convention that takes place annually at the Long Beach Convention Center. It’s usually held sometime between late July and early August. It includes discussion panels, celebrity photo ops, haunts, live entertainment, fun activities and a ton of vendors. It’s an event that gets everyone amped up for spooky season, so don’t miss out if you happen to be in town.

The Queen Mary

Let’s talk about The Queen Mary, otherwise known as one of the most haunted places in the world. The historic ship is a must-see when you come to Long Beach. Not only are the views from the vessel spectacular, but there are also interesting haunted tours offered for anyone curious to hear more about the ship’s ghostly history. I’ve done them all. For first timers, I recommend starting off with the Haunted Encounters tour for an introduction to the creepy legends surrounding the Queen Mary. For those more daring, you may want to participate in a paranormal investigation with The Grey Ghost Project.

Rad Coffee

If you need to get your caffeine fix before you begin your spooky Long Beach adventures, fuel up at Rad Coffee. The first location opened in Upland, CA, and the café now has a few other brick and mortars operating in the surrounding cities, including the Bixby Knolls area of the LBC. Their menu features hot, iced and blended coffee beverages inspired by horror icons. One of my faves is the Dracula blended coffee drink. They also have some arcade games in their covered patio.

Sunnyside Cemetery

I used to pass Sunnyside Cemetery nearly every day during my morning commute to high school. The grounds always fascinated me. The graveyard has been around since the early 1900s and is home to numerous headstones, grave markers and a mausoleum. Trees dot the landscape, and it has quite a serene feel. According to the Long Beach City website, Sunnyside hosts its annual Historical Cemetery Tour on the last Saturday in October.  There’s a possibility the cemetery may be open to the public daily but call ahead to double check.

R.I.P.

This section is for places, sites and businesses that were originally on this roundup but have closed and are no longer around. I can’t bring myself to completely remove them from this feature. I still want to pay homage to their memory because every selection I chose to mention was special for a reason. I hope this list doesn’t grow too much.

Dark Art Emporium

Postmortem note: Dark Art Emporium closed its doors in May 2025. This gallery was such a treasure, and I was deeply saddened when I heard they were going out of business. I wrote a farewell post to pay tribute and have covered DAE extensively on my blog, so if you’re curious to know what it was like, check out Dark Art Emporium Says Farewell.

Art connoisseurs should not miss an opportunity to go to the Dark Art Emporium. The gallery specializes in dark art and features an array of pieces by amazing artists. I have covered several of their exhibits and have seen so many stunning paintings and visual creations. The establishment relocated to First Street and the space is really cool. They tend to feature new exhibitions monthly, so there’s a good chance you’ll see some new artworks. An added bonus is they’re surrounded by other shops and restaurants that you can explore in the area.